GENUS PYXICOLA. 



Pyxicola affinis, S. K. Pl. XL, Figs. 28 and 29. 



727 



Lorica urceolate, slightly curved, gibbously inflated, about twice as long as 

 broad, rounded and widest posteriorly, slightly constricted beneath the narrow 

 and obliquely truncate distal aperture ; colour deep chestnut brown when 

 old, transparent when young, amber-colour at an intermediate stage ; pedicle 

 always transparent, varying from one-third to nearly one-half the height of 

 the lorica. Contained animalcule protruding but little beyond the orifice of 

 the lorica, thick and subcylindrical, tapering posteriorly, attached to the 

 bottom of the lorica without the intermedium of a boss -like prominence ; 

 operculum massive and conspicuous. Length of lorica 1-300". 



Hab. — Pond and marsh water. 



The contour of the lorica in this species so nearly resembles that of Pyxicola 

 pusilla that the author was at first disposed to regard it as a mere variety of that form. 

 Having, however, obtained examples from several remote locaUties, namely, Wands- 

 worth Common, London ; Leicestershire, and the Channel Islands, that in all in- 

 stances possessed the characters given in the above diagnosis, its claim for separate 

 specific recognition can scarcely be set aside. The distinction between these at first 

 sight apparently closely allied forms is moreover found on closer examination to be 

 considerable. The dimensions of the lorica of the present type are, in the first instance, 

 very much longer, added to which may be cited the much greater relative length of 

 the pedicle, the thicker and more cylindrical contour of the enclosed animalcule, and 

 the direct and more simple character of its attachment to its domicile. The species 

 appears to be of solitary habits, only two or three examples being found on each 

 occasion where it was met with. Like Pyxicola pusilla, it was usually obtained 

 attached to Lcmna or other aquatic plants, its companion in the Channel Islands 

 habitat being the interesting biflagellate type Eutreptia viridis. 



Pyxicola furcifer, Hutton sp. 



Lorica ovate, narrower and slightly constricted anteriorly, its aperture 

 obliquely set ; pedicle short, one-sixth of the length of the lorica. Animal- 

 cule transparent, subcylindrical, dilated anteriorly, attached directly to the 

 bottom of the lorica ; ciliary disc apparently bearing at its lateral angles 

 four robust bifurcating stylate cilia; operculum conspicuous only in the 

 adult individuals ; colour of lorica, operculum, and basis of attachment 

 of the pedicle deep chestnut brown, the pedicle transparent. Height of 

 lorica 1-500". Hab. — Fresh water : New Zealand. 



This species, figured and described by Professor F. W. Hutton, of Otago, New 

 Zealand, in the ' Journal of the Royal Microscopical Society' for May 1878, under the 

 title of Cothimiia funifcr, finds its natural place in the present genus. The contour 

 and proportions of the lorica agree most nearly with those of Pyxicola pusilla, but the 

 contained animalcule, according to the figure and description quoted, presents in the 

 adornment of its ciliary disc an altogether anomalous characteristic. In no known 

 representative of the Vorticellidge has the presence of similar stylate appendages in 

 this region been recorded. A somewhat similar ortical aspect to that represented 

 in Professor Hutton's woodcut is, however, frequently produced through the inter- 

 section at their lateral edges of the inner and outer peristomal wreaths of cilia, and it 

 is not improbable that a like interpretation is applicable in the present instance. 



